Industrial truck



' M rch 6, 1928. f 1,661,852

I E. H. REMDE INDUSTRIAL TRUCK Filed Maf ch 1927 3 ShBEK-Sheejg "v Mmm" A Z Z mmey March 6, 192

E.H.REMDE INDUSTRIAL TRUCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fiied March 17. 1927' Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

UNITED STATES '1, 61,sz PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD H. BEMDE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BAKER-RAULANG COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

INDUSTRIAL TRUCK.

Application filed March 17, 1927. Serial No..176,255.

This invention relates to an industrial truck of the type having an elevating load engaging. and carrying member.

One object of the invention -i to provide 5 an improved truck construetionu which the elements of the raising and lowering mechanism are arranged to permit of substantially full vision, by the operative, .of the load and the loading and unloading opera tions thereof, whereby the movement of the truck when its load engaging and carrying member is engaging or discharging a load -is facilitated and more effectively controlled.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved elevating type of truck in which the elements for supporting the load engaging and carrying member on its guides are simplified to reduce cost of manufacture and assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved truck of the elevating type which is relatively simple to reduce its cost and weight and its units and parts are arranged to effect reduction in the over-all 1 length of the truck to facilitate its move. I ment from place to place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a truck of this character in which the truck frame and guide frame thereon are arranged to mount the latter substantially in line with the axis of the traction wheels for the truck, whereby tendency of tilting is reduced and the weight of the load insures maximum tractive effort between the traction wheels and road surface.

Other objects of the invention will be ap-' parent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a truck embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view.

. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fi 3. 6 is an end elevation looking toward the left of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7. of Fig. 1.

In the form ofconstruction shown herein by way of example, the load engaging and carrying member, indicated as an entirety at i 1, 1s arranged to project beyond the end of the truck frametindicated as an entirety at 2) and the adjacent pair of wheel 3 for-the frame, and the operative stands on a platform 1 at the opposite end of the frame 2, as is generally the custom in trucks of this type, but it will be understood that the load engaging and carrying member may be otherwise arranged and the operatives station may be variously positioned. The frame 2 comprises a main section 2, which supports the power supply means 5, and an outwardly extended section 2 having I brackets 2, which are suitably secured, as by welding or riveting, to the Webs or walls of a pair of vertical guides 6, to support the latter. One end of the frame 2 is supported by the wheels 3 (already referred to) the opposite end of the frame may be supported by one or a pair of wheels 7. The power supply means 5, in the illustrated form of construction, comprise suitable stor age batteries. In the preferred form of construction', the wheels 3 are traction wheels, being driven by a motor 8 (preferably an electric motor) through a propeller shaft within a casing 9 and a power transmitting mechanism(driven by the propeller shaft) within a housing 10 (see Figs. 6 and 7) and 85 the wheels 7 are mounted for steering purpose-s. The motor 8 is rigidly supported in a cradle 11, preferably formed integral with the housing 10 and a tail member 12. The housing 10 and tail member 12 are connected with the frame 2 by a suspension mechanism, one element thereof being shown at 13. No claim is made herein to the suspension mechanism since the same forms the subjectmatter of an application Ser. No. 420,630 5 filed ointly by John H. Hertner and myself (see LettersPatent No. 1,628,145.) I As already set forth, either one or a pair of wheels 7 may be mounted at the steering end of the frame, and these wheels 7100 may bemounted on suitable knuckles; preferably I provide two wheels 7, suitably mounted on an. axle 14, which swings about a vertical axis .to effect steering. =-This arrangement permits the wheels to be p0si-.1o5 tioned relatively close together, below the frame 2, and allows turning of the truck in a relativelysmall area. The central portion of the axle 14 is enlarged, as shown at 15-, and this enlargement is provided with no chain 23.

an upwardly extending boss which carries a vertical spindle 16. The spindle 16 is rotatably mounted in a bearing 17. The bearing 17 depends downwardly from a substantially cup-shaped casing 18 having flanges 18, secured (as by countersunk bolts) to a plate 19. The plate 19 is secured in any suitable manner to the inner channels forming parts of the frame section 2. As shown in Fig. 7, the boss 15 forms a seat for a thrust bearing1 20 (preferably of the anti-friction type) isposed between it and the lower end of the bearin 17. The wall of the bearing 17 is provi ed with-a tubular extension 21 which encloses the bearing 20.. The upper end of the spindle 16 has keyed to it an operating element 22. Any form of operating means for operating the element 22 may be provided, but in the form illustrated herein it consists of construction of a sprocket 22, engaged by a The hub of the sprocket 22 is en aged by a nut 24, threaded on the free en of the spindle 16. The opposite face of the sprocket hub bears on the upper end wall of the bearing 17, so that the nut 24 serves to hold the spindle in operative relation to the bearing 17 with the thrust hearing 20 between the boss 15 and lower end wall of the bearing 17. The chain 23 also engages a sprocket 25 fixed to a stud shaft 26 mounted in any,suitable manner on the frame 2. The shaft 26 or the hub of the sprocket 25 carries an arm 27, which is connected by a link 28 to an arm 29 on the lower end of a steering column 30. The column 30 is rotatably mounted in bearings 31, provided on suitable brackets 32.

33 indicates a pair of u rights mountedon the frame s ction 2* ad acent the operatives station and connected in a suitable manner at their upper ends to the lower or inner ends of tie bars 34. The upper or outer ends of the bars 34 are connected to supporting members 35, which in turn are rigidly connected to the guides 6, the uprights 33, bars 34 and members 35 serving to brace the upper ends of said ides 6.

4 indicates as an entirety a bra e mechanism havin elements arranged to engage a wheel 8 ably fixed to an extended end of its shaft. The brake mechanism 4 includes operating connections 4" connected to and operated to release the braking elements by a foot pedal 4 associated with the latform 4. The connections 4 are normal y acted on' in the opposite direction by a spring 4 to apply the elements to the wheel 8".

36 indicates as an entirety a raising and lowering mechanism for the load engaging and carrying member 1. The mechanism 36 preferably comprises one or more flexible members, such as cables 37, each connected at one end to a winding drum 38 on which riven by the motor 8, preferit winds to raisethe member 1 and from which it unwinds to lower the member 1. The cables 37 are operatively connected at their opposite ends to the member 1, in the following manner: from the drums 38, the cables 37 extend to and over a pair of guide sheaves 39 loosely mounted on a shaft 40; from the sheaves 39 the cables 37 extend to and around sheaves 41 loosely mounted on a shaft 42; from the sheaves 41 the cables 37 extend to and around sheaves 43, loosely mounted on the load engaging and carrying member 1, as will later appear; from the sheaves 43 the cables 37 extend to and around sheaves 44, loosely mounted on a shaft 45, and from the latter sheaves the cables extend to and are connected to an anchorage, indicated as an entirety at 46, which Wlll be later described. The shaft 40 is supported at its ends in suitable standards 47 on the bars 34 and is provided with sleeves 48 (see Figs. 2 and '7) which space the sheaves 40 from each other and the standards 47. The shafts 42 and are respectively supported at their ends in hollow bosses 49 having suitable flanges which are secured to the supporting members 35 and guides 6, res ectively. Each shaft is provided with s eeves 50 which serve to space. the adjacent sheaves apart and in engagement with the free ends of the supporting bosses. I

The drums 38 are connected to a shaft or shaft sections driven by a suitable power mechanism mounted in a housing 51 and this mechanism is operated in either direction by a motor 52. The motor 52 is preferably of the electric type and receives its power from the supply means 5. The motor 52 is connected to a cradle 53 which may be formed integral with the walls of the housing 51. The motor 52 is controlled b a controller 54 and its shaft may be brake and released by a suitable mechanism actuated by a solenoid (not shown) connected in series with the motor circuit. The housin 51 is provided with feet 51 by means 0 which it is rigidly supported on the uprights 33.

55 indicates the controller for the motor 8. 56 indicates a suitable handle connected with the controller for o crating it.

The load engaging an carrying member 1 comprises one or more elements 1 arranged to be projected below a load to lift it and a shoe 1*. The shoe'l comprises pairs of plates 57-57,'57'57', the plates of each pair being disposed.upon opposite sides of and relatively close to one of the guides 6. The plates of each air are held together by rods 58 exten' ing through aligned openings therein and carrying nuts 59 on their outer ends enga in .the outer faces of the plates and are he] in spaced relation by sleeves 60 between the plates. The rods serve as shafts and the sleeves as bushings for guide rollers 61 (preferably flanged) engaging Walls of the adjacent guide 6. In the preferred construction and arrangement, each guide is formed from an I-beam and the rollers 61 engage the opposite outer faces of the flanges thereof. As

tending between their upper portions. The

rod 62 is reduced at it's ends to form shoulders 64 which engage the opposed faces of the inner plates and the reduced ends extend through aligned openings formed in the plates and carry nuts 65 on their free ends to engage the outer plates. Between each pair. of plates the rod 62 carries a sleeve 66 which serves to maintain the .plates in spaced relation. The lift elements 1 are provided with rip-standing arms 1*, each of which is disposed between the plates constituting one pair thereof. The arms 1 are formed with one or more transverse openings (preferably two)v which register with alignedopenings formed in the adjacent plates to receive rods 63. 1 These rods may be similar in construction to the rod 62 and provided with nuts 65' which when tightened, secure the arms 1" between the plates. The 'rods 63 are removable, so that the lift elements may be dis-assembled and other types of lift elements substituted.

It will be noted that the rod 62, and sleeve 66 and nuts 65 thereon and the rods 68 and arms 1"and nuts 65' thereon cooperate with the rods 58, sleeves and nuts 59 to support each pair of the plates in rigid re ation.

67 indicates stud shafts each extending inwardly from the inner plate of all and loosely supporting on its inner face one of the sheaves 43 (see Fig. 5), the sheave being held on its shaft by a cotter pin 68 or other suitable device.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the space'between the guides 6 or the plates 57-57, 5757, is substantially open so that the operative has an unobstructed view at all times of the load and load engaging and carrying member 1, which is particularly advantageous at and during the time that he is manipulating the truck or the load engaging and carrying member, or both, to engage or discharge a load.- V

69 indicates ins projecting inwardly from the inner aces of one plate of each pair (preferably the inner plate) and dis-' posed behind theouter flange of the guide.

The pin 69 extends through an opening formed in the plate and is connectedjhereto by a nut threaded on its inner end. The

outer end of the pin 69 does not engage the flange guide during the raising and lowering of the load engaging and carrying member 1, but is arranged to engage the flange to maintain the shoe in operative relation to the guides 6 in the event the member 1 meets with an obstruction when moving downwardly. C

- The anchorage 46 is constructed to take up slack in the cables 37,particularly in the eventthe load engaging. and carrying member 1 meets with an obstruction when moving downwardly. The anchorage comprises a base 46 guided between an up-standing plate 46 mounted on the frame 2 and a yoke 46 having flanges secured to the-plate. The base 46 comprises spaced members 70. 71 indicates fan equalizing member mounted to rotate or rock on the shaft as shown in'Fig. 6, the outer ends of the cables37 bein connected to the member 71.

The base 46' is provided with laterally exits weight gravitatesdownwardly and thus takes up any and all slack in the cables.

72 indicates as ,an entirety a. limiting means operatively connected with the load engaging and carrying member 1 and with the anchorage 46. Of' these means, 72 indicates a casing preferably carried byone of the bars 34 and enclosing switches through either of which the circuit to the motor 52 is made. switches are operated by a device carried by a rock shaft 73. The shaft 73 has an arm 7 3 connected by a link 74 to onearin of a bell crank 75 loosely mdunted o'n-the shaft 45 between the sleeves 50 thereon and this arm is connected by a link 76 with the corre sponding arm of a bell crank 77 loosely mounted on the shaft 42 between the sleeves 50 thereon. The other arm of the bell crank 77 has connected to it a rod 78 extending downwardly in a direction substantially parallel to the guides 6, being slidably supported in an opening formed in a plate 79 The movable elements of the;

which support the opposite ends of a shaft carried on the outer end of the frame secthe latter moves in one direction or another to its limit of movement as determined by the adjustment of the tappet, and through such tappet and the rod 78 operate one of The striker the switches in thecasing 72. 81 may comprise the free end of a. plate having a portion rolled around the rod 62, the free end of the plate preferably being bifurcated so as to straddle the rod 78.- The .when the slack take-up devices operate and to restore the limiting means to" normal position when operated by either the slack takeup devices or the shoe 1 When the base 46 moves downwardly, it carries with it the arm 84 and this arm acting through the lower spring 85 and lower collar 83 moves the r0d 82 downwardly, and accordingly operates one of the switches in the casing When the rod 78 is operated in either direction in the manner above set forth the rod '82 will be moved in the same direction and this operation will erve to compress the spring between one of the collars 83 and the arm 84:, so that upon the reverse movement of the shoe-1", the spring 85, which has been compressed, will restore the limiting means and connected parts to their normal position.

N 0 claim is made herein to the slack take up means and its connection with the limiting means since the same is the invention of A. G. Hutzley and forms the subjectmatter of a co-pcnding application.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The descriptions and the disclosure herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame having substantially vertical spaced uides thereon, wheels for supporting said frame, a load engagin and carrying member havinga shoe slidably engagmg said guides, said shoe comprising pairs of plates,.the plates of each air being dispo=ed upon the opposite si es and in close relation to one of said uides, means for maintaining each pair of plates in fixed, spaced relation, rollers between each pair of plates in engagement with the guides, means for maintaining the pairs of plates in spaced relation, and means for raising and lower- Iiong said lead engaging and carrying mem- 2. In apparatus of the class described,

' the combination of a frame having substantially vertical spaced guides th ereon,wheels for supporting said frame, a load engaging and carrying'member having a shoe slidably engaging said guides, said shoe comprising pairs of plates, the plates of each pair being disposed upon the opposite sides andin close relation to one of said guides, means for maintaining each pair of plates in fixed, spaced relation, rollers between each pair of plates in engagement with the guides, ineans for maintaining the pairs of plates in spaced relation, and means for raising and lowering said load engaging and carrying member, said raising and lowering means including flexible members and reeving elements on said guides and shoe and the reeving element-on said shoe being supported on the inner face of one of the inner plates.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame having substantially vertical spaced guides thereon, wheels for supporting said frame, a load engaging and carrying member having a shoe slidably engaging said guides, said shoe comprising pairs of plates, the plates of each pair being disposed upon the opposite sides and in close relation to one of said guides, means for maintaining each pair of plates in fixed, spaced relation, rollers between each pair of plates in engagement with the guides, means for maintaining the pairs of plates in spaced relation, comprising a cross rod connected to the plates, and means for raising and lowfiring said load engaging and carrying mem- 4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame, spaced guides mounted substantially vertically thereon, wheels for supporting said frame, a load engaging and carrying member having a shoe and a lifting element, said shoe, comprising portions connected in fixed s aced relation and each movably engaging front and rear surfaces of one of the guides and said lifting element having apair of spaced up-standing arms each disposed in the plane of the adj acent guide and connected to the shoe portion that engages therewith, whereby to permit nnobstructive view therethrough, and means for raising and lowering said member.

5. In a paratus of the class described, the combinatlon of a frame, spaced guides mounted substantially vertically thereon, wheels for supporting said frame, a load engaging and carrying member having a shoe, comprising portions disposed in spaced relation to permit unobstructed view between and through the guides and each portion having an upper roller and a lower roller movably engaging the adjacent guide, means disposed below the lower roller for connecting the shoe portions together, and means ill) gaging and carrying ember having a shoe and a pair of lift elements having up-standing arms, said shoe comprising pairs of plates, the plates of each pair being disposed upon and in close relation to the opporelation with the adjacent arm between them, and means for raising and lowering said member.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame having substantially vertical guides, wheels for supporting said frame, a load engaging and carrying member having a shoe, said shoe comprising pairs of plates, the plates of each pair be ing disposed upon opposite sides of one of said guides, means for connecting each pair of plates together in fixed, spaced relation, said means comprising a pair of rods and rollers on said rods engaging the adjacent guide, and means forraising and lowering said member.

8. In apparatus of the'class described, the combination of a frame, a pair of guides mounted thereon, wheels for supporting said frame, a load engaging and carrying memible members, reevin combination of a her having a shoe, tions each engaging one spaced from each other structed space between them, a pair of flexelements for said flexible members on t e upper portions of the uides, a reeving element forone of said fiexi le members on the adjacent shoe porof said guides and to form an unobtion, and means for winding or unwinding said flexible members.

9. In apparatus of the class described, the

lyvertical spaced guides thereon, wheels for 4 supporting said frame, a load engaging and carrymg member having a shoe slidably engaging said guides, said shoe comprising pairs of plates, the plates of each pair being disposed upon the opposite sides and in close relation to one of said guides, means for maintaining each pair of plates in fixed spaced relation, rollers between each pair 0 plates in engagement with the guides, means for maintaining the pairs of plates in spaced relation, comprising a cross rod connected to the upper portion of the plates and a cross rod connected to the lower .portion thereof, and means for raising and lowering said load engaging and carrymg member,

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name. 4

EDWARD H. REMDE.

frame having substantiah said shoe comprising por- 

